Education Partnerships Program: Regional Education Agreement Component: National Program Guidelines 2022 to 2023
Table of contents
Introduction
The Government of Canada is committed to achieving reconciliation with Indigenous peoples through a renewed, nation-to-nation and government-to-government relationship based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership as the foundation for transformative change. The implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples requires transformative change in the government's relationship with Indigenous peoples.
These efforts must be guided by Canada's obligation to respect and uphold First Nations' inherent, Aboriginal and Treaty rights, including those rights to education referenced in specific treaties and self-government agreements. The nation-to-nation relationship between the Government of Canada and First Nations is rooted in historic treaties, the Numbered Treaties, self-government agreements, section 35, of the Constitution Act of 1982, guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and informed by the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
1. Program introduction
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) supports the advancement of First Nations student achievement in First Nations, independent, provincial and territorial schools through the Education Partnerships Program (EPP). This program has 3 components:
- Partnerships
- Structural Readiness
- Regional Education Agreement
Each of the components have their own set of national program guidelines outlining the eligibility criteria and proposal or work plan information requirements.
ISC implemented an education policy framework which aims to fundamentally improve the way ISC funds First Nations elementary and secondary education, while supporting regional and local diversity and the principle of First Nations control of First Nations education.
This education policy framework is informed by the Transforming First Nations Elementary and Secondary Education Policy Proposal (2017), developed by the Assembly of First Nations, the National Indian Education Council and ISC. A component of this education policy framework identifies the funding supports for First Nations in addressing their education goals and priorities of their students, schools and communities under education transformation.
ISC has committed funding to support the following which is expanded in section 4:
- information sessions on education transformation
- the establishment of technical tables
- the negotiation or renegotiation of a regional education agreement (REA)
The development of a REA is optional. First Nations may choose to develop a REA to facilitate greater control of education by articulating their vision of their school system, including its overall structure and funding. The REA can formalize how First Nations have determined the distribution of their core education funding (such as, education service map) in accordance with the Elementary and Secondary Education Program's Kindergarten to grade 12 Terms and Conditions and provide funding stability and predictability in support of the delivery of elementary and secondary education.
REAs can be based on the current IFF (Interim Funding Formula) allocations or can be based on funding levels beyond the IFF allocations in order to improve student outcomes not achievable by the IFF allocations.
Where REAs are based on current Kindergarten to grade 12 authorities and the IFF, ISC can conclude or sign them without seeking central agency approval.
Where REAs are to be based on amended or new authorities and funding beyond the IFF, central agency approval is required first in order to conclude or sign them.
ISC can assist with the development of the First Nations' request for needs-based funding for central agency consideration. Critical to the improved student outcomes-based funding request is the clear demonstration of:
- the student outcomes that the participating First Nations are seeking to improve and which cannot be achieved with current funding
- the required activities to be implemented to support improved outcomes
- how progress towards achieving the targeted outcomes will be measured
- the associated costs of the activities
Where a First Nation chooses to enter into REA negotiations, that REA will address the following 4 pillars:
- comprehensive funding arrangements, covering all federal support for First Nations elementary and secondary education, including special education and education supports for languages
- clear and defined roles and responsibilities of the parties to the REA, including applicable service standards, as determined by First Nations
- mutual accountability mechanisms with clear objectives, performance indicators and reporting expectations for both the Government of Canada and First Nations education system participants
- First Nations will give direction to outline processes of working with ministries of education to ensure quality education is provided to First Nations students attending provincial, private or territorial schools
With respect to the regional aspect of an actual REA, a region will be defined as any territory which First Nations choose to implement First Nations control of First Nations education and negotiate or renegotiate a First Nations REA. This could include, but is not limited to, a territory defined as:
- a single First Nation
- a tribal council
- a treaty affiliation
- a language family
- an entire province
These guidelines have been developed in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations, its Chiefs Committee on Education and the National Indian Education Council.
2. Objective
REA funding is intended to support First Nations in establishing information sessions related to education transformation, technical tables and negotiating or renegotiating an education agreement supported by leadership. These activities are related to, but not limited to:
- formalizing education systems to support ber service
- actively working on a First Nations-designed education system that reflects their vision of culturally-appropriate education to achieve student success
- designing education frameworks around specific initiatives, determined by First Nations, to address specific priorities leading to measureable improvements in student outcomes
- identifying the source data and methodology used to cost activities relate to improved student outcomes
- outlining how the Government of Canada can better support First Nations students, schools, communities and education organizations in ensuring that First Nations students receive a high quality, linguistically and culturally appropriate education that will support improved student outcomes and strengthen First Nations control of First Nations education
3. Eligible recipients
Applicants who may be eligible to receive funding for this program are:
- First Nations
- any First Nations organization mandated by First Nations
First Nations organizations mandated by First Nations must meet the following criteria:
- have demonstrated support from First Nations communities or schools, such as but not limited to, a band council resolution, letter or email of support
- individual First Nations communities or schools can only be a party to a single proposal in each component
Entities such as bands or First Nations organizations that are delivering education services under a self-government arrangement are not eligible to apply to the REA component.
4. Eligible components and activities
REA funding is provided to support the following activities:
- delivering information sessions on education transformation to ensure information-sharing, awareness-raising or other engagement activities in support of the overall implementation of a formula-based funding approach to education on reserve
- establishing technical tables to discuss the IFF and to provide an opportunity for First Nations to collectively explore ongoing joint review, evaluation and refinement of the IFF in support of elementary and secondary education
- establishing technical tables to discuss or to explore potential outcomes of entering into a REA and to support:
- identifying First Nations education priorities
- identifying First Nations-focused education system
- establishing First Nations-driven targeted student outcomes and goals, such as but not limited to increasing student retention rates and graduation rates
- helping ISC formulate the financial needs and requests for subsequent budgets
- negotiating or renegotiating a REA which includes the elements stated above and where applicable, providing an opportunity for First Nations to expand and negotiate existing activity schedules in their agreement
5. Expenditures
5.1 Eligible expenditures
Subject to Section 5.2, eligible expenditures can include:
- short-term, non-permanent funding for salaries and benefits
- travel expenditures including accommodation costs, private vehicle mileage allowances and daily meal allowances. ISC will provide funding in accordance with the rates set out in the National Joint Council Travel Directive (excluding incidental allowances)
- meeting costs including facility rentals, meeting rooms, audio-visual equipment rentals and hospitality
- professional or consulting fees: daily rates and duration of contract must be clearly stated
- honoraria for Elders, Knowledge Keepers, cultural and ceremonial drummers and dancers
- legal advice (excluding litigation costs)
5.2 Ineligible expenditures
Ineligible expenditures include, but are not limited to the following:
- provincial tuition or activities related to core programming
- activities related to the negotiation or renegotiation and implementation of self-government agreements
- infrastructure, planning, construction, operation or maintenance of federal and First Nations school facilities
- travel outside Canada
- any activity expenditure that would result in duplicated funding (receiving funding from more than 1 source for the same cost of an activity), including fees and services covered through tuition agreements
- door prizes, swag bags and gifts
5.3 Maximum administration costs
Eligible administration costs include only actual costs associated directly with administering the REA work plan and may be calculated based on the total funding requested for activities to a maximum of 15% of the requested funding.
Eligible administration costs include, but are not limited to, the following:
- clerical support
- office space and utilities
- administrative overhead such as:
- stationery and office materials
- cell phones and office phones
- individual IT equipment
- the collection, maintenance and reporting of data and information in accordance with program and financial report requirements
- costs associated with ensuring that personal information is appropriately managed and safeguarded during its collection, retention, use, disclosure and disposal
When a funding recipient further transfers to a third party funds that were received under REA funding, the 15% allowed for administration costs must be divided between the parties, as agreed to by the parties.
6. Work plan process and assessment process criteria
Interested applicants are invited to submit work plans to their respective ISC regional office as of April 1, 2022. Deadline for work plans is December 31, 2022.
Applicants may submit a 1 year work plan.
As work plans are received by ISC regional offices, they will be reviewed by ISC officials in accordance with the following work plan criteria and ISC may request further information or revisions from applicants.
Approved funding amounts will be based on the available regional allocations. Regional allocations will be reviewed annually.
Work plans will be assessed based on applicant eligibility, as well as the eligible components and activities as outlined in Section 4.
The mandatory work plan sections must be completed with clear information. Missing information, or the lack of clarity, will directly impact the level of approved funding.
Work plans must include the following:
- overall objective of the work plan
- activities to be undertaken in support of the objectives
- timelines for the completion of all activities, including when participation is expected from ISC
- expected outcomes of the activities
- budgeted expenditures that link to the activities
- support from First Nations leadership on the interest to engage in information sessions or technical tables, or to pursue a REA. This can be in the form of a band council resolution or signatures from multiple First Nations indicating support to engage in information sessions or technical tables, or enter into REA discussions on their behalf. A template has been prepared for applicants' convenience and is available from ISC
7. Funding
7.1 Funding recipients
A funding recipient is a successful applicant who has signed a funding agreement with ISC.7.2 Duration of funding
2022 to 2023 approved funding will be provided through a 1-year contribution agreement.
A given year's level of approved funding does not guarantee funding or the same level of funding in following years.
Recipients will be required to report anticipated deferred or surplus funding to ISC by February 15, 2023.
7.3 Funding approaches
Transfer payments to REA funding recipients will be made using fixed contribution. Set contribution may be used if the recipient so wishes.
ISC regional officers can provide information on the eligibility requirements of these funding approaches and on the requirements related to the management of the funds.
The funding approach used to transfer funds to a recipient is identified in the recipient's signed funding agreement.
The following specific program directions for the management of transfer payments complement the directions provided in the recipient's signed funding agreement and are to be read in conjunction with the funding agreement.
Set contribution funding
Reallocation of funding:
Reallocation of funds is not allowed with transfer payments made using set contribution.
Fixed contribution funding
Reallocation of funding:
During the fiscal year, recipients may reallocate a reasonable percentage of funds among the eligible activities and expenditures of their ISC-approved REA work plan.
Recipients must obtain approval from the ISC officer responsible for the program in their region before reallocating funds.
Unexpended funding:
Recipients may carry over unexpended funding remaining at the end of the fiscal year, for use in the next fiscal year on eligible activities and expenditures outlined in these guidelines.
Flexible contribution funding
Reallocation of funding:
During the fiscal year, recipients may reallocate funds among the eligible activities and expenditures of their ISC-approved REA work plan.
Unexpended funding:
Recipients may carry over remaining funding at the end of each fiscal year, for use in a subsequent fiscal year to further achieve results toward their ISC-approved REA work plan. Any unexpended funds remaining after all the mandatory activities of the ISC-approved work plan are delivered, can only be spent on eligible activities and expenditures related to regional education agreements as outlined in these guidelines.
7.4 No duplication of funding
REA funding is not designed to duplicate funding for activities funded by other programs, nor to supplement funding from other program areas.
Individual First Nations communities or schools can only be a party to a single proposal in each component.
8. Reporting requirements and monitoring and oversight activities
8.1 Reporting requirements
The reporting requirements (program reports and financial reports) and their respective due dates are listed in the recipient's funding agreement and details on these requirements are available in the Reporting Guide.
Recipients must report on all funds received and expended, including the use of unexpended funding they were able to retain to use in another fiscal year (consult the funding approaches section of these guidelines for details on the use of unexpended funds).
Recipients who have access to the ISC Services portal can access the reporting forms by opening a session on the portal. Recipients who do not have access to the portal should contact their ISC regional office.
Recipients are responsible for completing an annual report and submitting it to the ISC regional office by June 30 the year following receipt of the funds.
The final report should be in the "Activities and Expenditures Report" data collection instrument. Information to highlight in reporting can include:
- service map
- outline of roles and responsibilities of First Nations and First Nations education organizations
- mutual accountability mechanisms
- agreement (draft or final)
If the funded work has not concluded, final reporting should also include information on next steps and timeline.
8.2 Monitoring and oversight
All recipient reporting requirements are subject to monitoring and oversight activities to determine the accuracy of the information provided to ISC.
To ensure that the program or strategy outcomes and objectives are being met and opportunities for continuous improvement with a goal to improve results for Indigenous peoples are being identified, activities including audits, evaluations and targeted program or strategic reviews may be conducted in collaboration with the recipient (for example, desk and on-site reviews).
9. Personal information
ISC's collection and use of personal information and other records for the purposes of targeted program reviews (for example, desk and on-site reviews) will be limited to what is necessary to ensure program delivery requirements are met.
ISC is responsible for all information and records in its possession. The confidentiality of the information will be managed by ISC in accordance with the Privacy Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. P-21 and other related policies on privacy.
Recipients are responsible for the protection of personal information as per provincial privacy statutes and regulations and the recipient's policies up to the point that the personal information is transferred to ISC.
10. Accountability
ISC is committed to providing assistance and mutual accountability to recipients in order to help them effectively carry out their obligations under these guidelines and their funding agreements.
Regional offices and other ISC contacts are available to answer questions and provide guidance related to ISC programs and funding.
Recipients must:
- deliver the programs and strategies in accordance with the provisions of their signed funding agreement and the program delivery requirements outlined in these guidelines
- ensure that the necessary management controls are in place to manage funding and monitor activities
- exercise due diligence when approving expenditures
- ensure that such expenditures are in accordance with the eligible expenditures set out in these guidelines
11. Contact information
For further program information, please consult the Education Partnerships Program web page.
The ISC regional offices contact information can be found on the ISC regional offices page.
You can also write to:
Education Branch
Regional Partnerships Directorate
Indigenous Services Canada
10 rue Wellington - Suite 1455, Mailstop 25E-19
Gatineau QC K1A 0H4
Email: education-education@sac-isc.gc.ca
For more information about education programs, consult the national program guidelines or the "View Instructions button" on the first page of this program's data collection instrument.